Hot dog vendor shows a colorful side of PNC Park

July 6, 2014 12:00 AM

Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette

Rain doesn't detour hot dog vendor David Sakulsky, nicknamed "Chico," during a rain delay of the Pirates game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on June 19. Even with the rain, he quickly sold out his last batch of 20 hot dogs.

Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette

Hot dog vendor David Sakulsky, nicknamed "Chico," works the crowd during an afternoon Pirates game. Mr. Sakulsky, who dances, heckles the crowd, and jokes with his regulars, has been working there for nine years.

Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette

Hot dog vendor David Sakulsky, nicknamed "Chico," tries to pump up the crowd during an afternoon Pirates game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park.

Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette

Hot dog vendor David Sakulsky, nicknamed "Chico," uses his tongs as a fake microphone to sing along with music playing during an afternoon Pirates game.

Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette

Hot dog vendor David Sakulsky, nicknamed "Chico," often pauses between selling hot dogs to dance to the music.

Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette

Hot dog vendor David Sakulsky, nicknamed "Chico," pauses from selling hot dogs to cheer along with fans during an afternoon Pirates game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette

Hot dog vendor David Sakulsky, nicknamed "Chico," has a faithful following of 60 or so customers who always buy hot dogs from him. He works the crowd during an afternoon Pirates game against the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park.

Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette

Hot dog vendor David Sakulsky restocks on hot dogs during an afternoon Pirates game. Mr. Sakulsky says on a busy day he can sell up to 160 hot dogs.

Rebecca Droke/Post-Gazette

Hot dog vendor David Sakulsky, nicknamed "Chico," works the crowd during an afternoon Pirates game.

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By Gretchen McKay / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Chances are you‘‍ll hear David Sakulsky before you see him.

His gravelly voice booms out over the crowd at PNC Park as he weaves his way through the aisles in lower right field. He’‍s pretty agile for a guy who‘‍s got a 40-pound “hot box” stuffed with warm buns and hot water strapped to his belly.

Hot dog vendor dances, jokes way into sales, friendships

PNC Park hot dog vendor David Sakulsky has earned sales and friendships through his ballpark routine, which includes dancing and a lot of joke-filled chatter. (Video by Andrew Rush; 7/6/2014)

A fan to his right waves, and the veteran vendor -- he’‍s been doing this for about eight years now -- reaches into the box, being careful to stay bent over as he slaps a Sugardale frank into a wax paper-wrapped Cellone‘‍s bun. The No. 1 rule of ballpark hawking, he notes, is never to block anyone’‍s view.

It’‍s what comes next that delights the crowd. When music blares over the PA system during a break in innings, Mr. Sakulsky starts to dance. It‘‍s more hip-hop than rock ’‍n‘‍ roll, with lots of shoulder rolling and pointing fingers. But the man ain’‍t afraid to bob his head like a chicken or swing those hips like Elvis, either.

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Regulars know him as the Dancing Hot Dog Guy. It‘‍s a nickname that makes the father of two grin.

“I like to move, I‘‍m always moving,“ he chuckles. “I love my job.”

Mr. Sakulsky also sings into his tongs and jokes with his customers. (“Hey! I don’‍t go into McDonald‘‍s and ask for a Whopper,” he tells a wise guy who asks for a burger.) Only occasionally does he stop to watch the action on the field, and then only for a nano-second. The job is commission-based, so it’‍s important to hustle.

On a good night, Mr. Sakulsky can sell four loads of hot dogs -- more than 150 at $3.50 a pop.

PNC Park vendors get to pick what they sell each day based on seniority, and what kind of game it is. Day games mean lots of kids hungry for cotton candy and lemon chills; weekends bring out the beer lovers. When it’‍s hot out, you want to sell water.

Even if you‘‍re not a regular at PNC Park you might know the Green Tree resident: He also peddles beer at Consol Energy, Heinz Field and First Niagara Pavilion in Burgettstown.

“I don’‍t go anywhere where people don‘‍t recognize me,” he says.

So what makes a good hot dog vendor?

It helps to be fit, as the average vendor can walk 4 to 5 miles per game, up and down stairs.

“You have to be good spirited, high energy and be good with sales,” Mr. Sakulsky says. But the best guys also are entertaining, which is where the dancing comes in.

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